Did you know?

Long before she became an award-winning and distinctly American author and beloved writer for The New Yorker, Susan Orlean spent her childhood in Cleveland, Ohio and studied literature and history at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. After college, she decided to abandon her plans to go to law school to fulfill her dream of being a writer, living in Oregon and writing for an alternative newsweekly in Portland, then for Rolling Stone and The Village Voice. She moved to Boston in 1982, and wrote for the Boston Globe, starting her first book, Saturday Night, in that historic city. Four years later, she moved to New York, wrote The Orchid Thief, became a staff writer at The New Yorker, got married, and added a Welsh Springer Spaniel to her family. These days, she lectures, teaches, and writes pieces for The New Yorker and other magazines, while working on books. Her meticulously researched and artfully crafted  book about the Los Angeles Public Library and the arson fire there in 1986, The Library Book, was published in October, 2018, by Simon and Schuster,  and catapulted her into the ranks of the most loved authors in the nation. She now splits her time between Los Angeles and the Hudson Valley of New York, with her husband, son, and menagerie of animals.

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The Gift of Susan Orlean

“All the things that are wrong in the world seem conquered by a library’s simple unspoken promise: Here I am, please tell me your story; here is my story, please listen.”
― Susan Orlean, The Library Book

Winter is the perfect time to curl up with a good read by Susan Orlean, our extraordinary Author of the Year.

As the beloved crafter of The Orchid Thief, Rin Tin Tin, The Library Book, and so many other works of page-turning literature, Susan proves that the library, infinite with options, is the penultimate  “Place to Belong.”

Curl up with some hot chocolate and a downy blanket and discover for yourself why Susan Orlean is the award-winning observer and chronicler of our times.

Then come connect with her and our close-knit community of dreamers in person at a free public event to be held on the afternoon of Saturday, May 8th. With Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 9, a personal chat with Susan Orlean would be a fitting gift for the unconditionally loving person who always sees the good in you. Or moms, treat yourself to this storybook indulgence!  

Stay tuned for further details about Susan Orlean’s appearance in our neighborhood in the merry, merry month of May!

Click here to Join the “Author of the Year” email list to receive alerts about upcoming programs and updates on her Spring event.

Lazy Little Loafers: Love, Laughter, and a Good Internet Connection: Supporting the Socioemotional Development of Young Children 
Thursday, January 21
7:00 p.m. on Zoom
60-minute program

In January, we are spotlighting Susan Orlean’s picture book Lazy Little Loafers which is an illustrated lament from the viewpoint of a disgruntled older sibling who wonders, “Why don’t babies work?”

We know that babies are, in fact, working cognitively all the time, absorbing everything their little eyes can see, and that some of the most important developmental years happen early. It’s no secret that we are currently living through unprecedented times and have had to find new ways to engage the young children in our lives. Dr. Hannah Mudrick, Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Pennsylvania State University – Harrisburg, will help participants navigate social and emotional development of young children during the ongoing pandemic.  

>> Register Now 

Registrants will be emailed a Zoom link, password, and further instructions.
 

The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup: Book Discussion
Thursday, March 25
4 p.m. on Zoom
60 minute program

Published in 2002, Susan Orlean’s The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup: My Encounters with Extraordinary People is a collection of Orlean’s best profiles. Each piece focuses on people – from the well-known Bill Blass and Tonya Harding to a ten-year-old boy and an unemployed Hollywood agent. This book explores the stories of a diverse cast of individuals, full of their passions and eccentricities. 

>> Register Now

Registrants will be emailed a Zoom link, password, and further instructions.
 

The Orchid Thief: Book Discussion
Thursday, February 25
4:00 p.m. on Zoom
60 minute program

In 1994, John Laroche and three Seminole Indians were arrested with rare orchids they had stolen from a wild swamp in south Florida that is filled with some of the world’s most extraordinary plants and trees. Laroche had planned to clone the orchids and then sell them for a small fortune to impassioned collectors. After he was caught in the act, Laroche set off one of the oddest legal controversies in recent memory, which brought together environmentalists, Native American activists, and devoted orchid collectors. The result is a tale that is strange, compelling, and hilarious.

>> Register Now 

Registrants will be emailed a Zoom link, password, and further instructions.

Rin Tin Tin: DIY Dog Toy
Wednesday, September 9
7:00 p.m. on Zoom
60-minute program

Upon realizing that Rin Tin Tin was a real dog and not simply a TV character, Susan Orlean sought to learn more about the dog’s legacy. Rin Tin Tin is a beloved icon and in her book Rin Tin Tin, Orlean explains dogs’ roles in American popular culture, and the bonds created between humans and animals. 

Grab an old t-shirt and join The Library to learn how to make a homemade dog toy! Together, we will walk step-by-step through the craft that your dog is bound to love. You can still join us even if you don’t have a dog – donate your finished toy to a pup in need!

Rin Tin Tin: DIY Dog Toy
Wednesday, September 9
7:00 p.m. on Zoom
60-minute program

Upon realizing that Rin Tin Tin was a real dog and not simply a TV character, Susan Orlean sought to learn more about the dog’s legacy. Rin Tin Tin is a beloved icon and in her book Rin Tin Tin, Orlean explains dogs’ roles in American popular culture, and the bonds created between humans and animals. 

Grab an old t-shirt and join The Library to learn how to make a homemade dog toy! Together, we will walk step-by-step through the craft that your dog is bound to love. You can still join us even if you don’t have a dog – donate your finished toy to a pup in need!

The Next Chapter Book Club
My Kind of Place

Thursday, October 29
4:00 pm
(60-minute program)

Susan Orlean takes readers on a series of remarkable journeys in a uniquely witty and sophisticated travel book. In this collection of adventures far and near, Orlean conducts a tour of the world via its subcultures, from the heart of the African music scene in Paris to the World Taxidermy Championships in Springfield, Illinois – and even into her own apartment, where she imagines a very famous houseguest taking advantage of her hospitality.

Throw Me a Bone: Pet Nutrition Class
Tuesday, October 13
7:00 pm on Zoom
60-minute program

In Throw Me a Bone, Susan Orlean’s dog, Cooper, shares with his readers 50 of his favorite healthy, homemade snacks, meals, and treats. From pancakes to pizza, Cooper (with the help of Susan Orlean, a cookbook author, and a dog trainer/nutritional consultant) includes a variety of recipes that your own pooch is bound to enjoy.

Want to learn more about pet nutrition? Join The Library for an informational virtual class with the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area to learn how to navigate pet nutrition and keep your furry friend healthy.